Q. I am in a quandary. My job’s new schedule means that I have to work on a Sunday. Can I do that? What does the Church teach about that?

Charles, via email

A. Here’s a reply from TCA columnist Father Ray Ryland, Ph.D., J.D:

It is permitted to do necessary work on Sunday if you fulfill your weekend Mass obligation. Depending on your hours, perhaps you could worship at an early Mass. If that is not possible, then you should consider worshiping in a Saturday afternoon Mass. We hope for your sake that you can satisfy your obligation in one of these ways.

I assume you have at least one day off from work.

Get and study a copy of Blessed John Paul II’s apostolic letter on keeping the Lord’s Day holy (Dies Domini). It is easily accessible on the Internet at www.vatican.va. Then try to bring to some portion of your day off the hallowing of which Blessed John Paul spoke so profoundly.